LOW BACK PAIN
Low Back Pain Questions People Ask Before They Know Who to See
What causes low back pain?
Low back pain can come from many things: sometimes it is a muscle strain or a joint that is not moving well. Sometimes it is a disc, nerve, ligament, arthritis, posture, old injuries, weak core muscles, tight hips, or too much sitting. Sometimes is is more serious: like a kidney issue.
But sometimes, the body is just mad because you asked it to do the same thing over and over and over like sit like a shrimp for eight hours and then help your wife lift a couch on Saturday.
Most low back pain is mechanical. That means it is related to how the bones, joints, muscles, discs, and nerves are moving and working together.
The hard part is this: pain does not always tell the whole story.
A small problem can hurt a lot. A bigger problem can hide for a while. That is why guessing is not the best plan.
At Active Family Chiropractic, we look at how your body moves, where it is stressed, what motions hurt, what motions help, how you are spending your time and what your goals are, and whether your nervous system is involved.
The goal is to name the pain and The Cause AND come up with a Game Plan to get you out of pain and then Keep You There.
when should i worry about low back pain (lbp)?
Most low back pain is not dangerous. That is good news. But some symptoms need medical attention right away.
Seek urgent or emergency care if your low back pain comes with:
Loss of bladder or bowel control
Numbness in the groin or saddle area
New or worsening leg weakness
Fever or signs of infection
Pain after a fall, crash, or major injury
History of cancer with new back pain
Unexplained weight loss
Severe pain that is getting worse instead of better
Pain that wakes you up and does not change with position
These are called red flags. Red flags do not mean panic. They mean do not ignore it and do not try to tough-guy your way through it.
If those signs are not present, your low back pain may still need care, but it is less likely to be a medical emergency.
Our job is to help you sort this out. If we think we can help you, we will tell you; AND if we think that you are NOT in the right place, we will tell you that too.
How can I relieve low back pain at home?
The old advice was, “Go lie down until it feels better.” That sounds nice. It is also usually not the best plan.
Too much rest can make the back stiff, weak, and more sensitive. Your back likes motion. It may not like dramatic motion. It may not be ready for CrossFit, yard work, or proving a point. But it does like safe, simple movement.
Helpful home steps may include:
Heat or ICE (we generally prefer to Ice when your body is Red Hot and Angry)
Avoiding heavy lifting for a short time
Change positions often
Light core bracing - like those low back braces you see at Home Depot; just give the Low Back a little extra help for a few days
Getting up from sitting every 20 to 30 minutes
The goal is not to attack the pain. The goal is to calm the system down and keep the body moving.
If your pain is sharp, spreading down the leg, causing weakness, or not improving, it is time to get checked. Yes, that means go to the ER. If there is ONE THING that we would like you to leave our website with, it is this: TRUST YOUR GUT. If something does not feel right, GO GET CHECKED. The ER is full of experts who have seen everything you can think of. They are there to help.
Great question: it could be any of those, most likely there is a component of each.
For example: your LBP could be a result of arthritis, poor core control, or old injury patterns. Each of those will involve the spinal joint where 2 (or more) bones come together, the disc between those spinal bones, the muscles that move those bones and the nerve that is trying to exit the spine at that level.
To make it more complicated, sometimes symptoms overlap.
Pain down the leg may involve a nerve, but not always.
Tight muscles may be the cause, or they may be guarding something deeper.
A disc bulge can hurt, but some people have disc bulges and no pain at all.
Arthritis can show up on imaging, but that does not always mean it is the main pain source.
That is why we do not love guessing games. That is one of the reasons we take x-rays; that is why You WANT x-rays.,
At AFC AZ, we look at your x-rays, your posture, all of your movement patterns, your muscle control, your pain patterns, how you work and what your goals hare. That is how we properly assess and diagnose you. THEN we come up with a Game Plan.
Your Alpha 5 Phase System is based on the compilation of that information. It is individual to you. And it is BUILT on your participation :)
can chiropractic help low back pain?
For many people, yes. For example: Here is a study comparing Chiropractic Care vs. Medical Care Alone on Military Members with LBP
Chiropractic care may help your low back pain by improving how the spine and body move, reducing joint restriction, calming irritated tissues, and helping the nervous system work with less stress. It is also KEY to maintaining your spine and nervous system for Now, and more importantly, for "Later" as you age.
In our experience, the Adjustment is not the ONLY THING that has to be addressed. If your back keeps hurting because your body is weak, stiff, unstable, or moving poorly, one adjustment may help you feel better, but it may not fix the pattern.
That is why we use our Alpha 5 Phase System:
Relieve the pain
Realign the body
Rebuild strength
Retrain movement
Reclaim your normal life
RESOURCE: Clinical guidelines support exercise, manual therapy, and education for low back pain.
The goal is not to chase pain forever. The goal is to help your body become stronger, more stable, and more trustworthy.
Remember: NO ONE IS COMING BECAUSE THE HERO IS ALREADY INSIDE YOU (hint: its your nervous system)
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Hours of Operation
Mon: 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Tue: 2:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Wed: 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Thu: 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Fri: Appointment only
Sat: Appointment only
Sun: Closed
129 S Smith Road Tempe, AZ 85288
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